Explained: She lived to see ‘Deb’s law’ take effect. Now she can choose how she dies

Deb Robertson became a public advocate for Illinois' medical aid-in-dying law after being diagnosed with a rare, aggressive cancer.

medical aid in dying

A legal practice allowing terminally ill patients to receive a prescription to end their own life.

preliminary injunction

A court order that temporarily stops a law from being enforced while a case is decided.

death doula

A person who provides non-medical support to someone during the dying process.

bioethicist

An expert who studies ethical issues arising from medicine and biology, such as end-of-life decisions.

ALS

A progressive disease that attacks nerve cells controlling muscles, eventually affecting movement and speech.